have a word with the wife 299 Posted July 2, 2017 How did you get into this game ? just been pondering, must be some fascinating stories out there ? go with your dad to auction ? start in the spanner department ? i started with seeing a cortina for £30 in the local shop window, only down road so went and viewed it, no t or t, bought it, drove it back, cleaned it inside and out [added value ] and put it in the same shop window for £60 two days later SOLD . yes i am old Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattGM 12 Posted July 2, 2017 Funnily enough, my dad bought a Cortina once for £60. Worst bag of shit he'd ever had the stupidity to swap notes for. Moving on..... I've worked as a mechanic for more time than I dare remember. I came into some money and decided I was sick of making some for other people. So decided to lose some myself Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrC 142 Posted July 2, 2017 Its either drug dealing, Prison or Car dealing. I chose the just about most reputable of the three. Seriously the first deal I ever did was a for a 1977 T reg green mini. I swapped it for a VHS player. Stuck a new battery on it, a set of Weller wheels and some cheapo bucket seat. Drove it like a tw@t for 3 moths then sold it for a half decent profit. That was circa 1991-2 I was 18 at the time, I got a taste for it, I used to then buy the wedge shape Rovers and 405's and sell them to local Taxi drivers. Good times Who remembers the time when Autotrader man used to come to take the pictures. ? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
metcars 397 Posted July 3, 2017 9 hours ago, MrC said: Who remembthe time when Autotrader man used to come to take the pictures. ? Selling cars in pre internet times meant you were part of a small community, some of us grew up together and we knew what we were 'holding', how much it stood us in and where it was from. Deals were much easier between trade when you knew the guys from school days. Sadly, these days you can't be that picky and have to dance with the devil Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arfur Dealy 823 Posted July 3, 2017 My first job was a Valeter at 16 at a local garage. When i passed my test at 17 that's 31 years ago I bought a Px (moggy 1000) for £150, cleaned it and sold it within a week for £800. Got the bug Btw, I was on £1.25 an hour £50 a week !! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BHM 994 Posted July 3, 2017 Got bored doing my day job & I'd always had an interest in cars (that's gone now) so occasionally skived-off work to go to the block. The first year I made nowt because as I'd owned new, or nearly new, cars I was prepping everything to death due to my standards. After a year I realised I was giving to much away to the greedy general public (especially after seeing the shite they p/x'd) & decided to sell them in "used" condition. Basically giving the public what they pay for - nothing more, nothing less. I enjoy the sourcing of cars & the dealing with nice people who appreciate you don't get gold for the price of silver, however it's the complete & utter pillocks that spoil it for me - I honestly feel like battering some of the cretins & the rise of other traders phoning trying to offload their p/x shitter. If I ever phone another trader I make it clear I'm in the trade, however that courtesy seems to be long gone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grant8064 219 Posted July 3, 2017 I only started a couple of years ago. Had worked in an auction/sales related job for approx 10 years but lost interest, was in a position to move on, so quit. Had a few months off weighing up plans and then started the current business with my Brother in law (he worked for a small main dealer for 10 years). Been a bit of a learning curve but I managed to take a lot of experience from my previous job and find a lot of common ground between the two. Aside from the screamers this is far less stressful overall, better paid and slightly more rewarding. Unlike the previous posters, I have no real interest in cars or the motor trade outside of work which I think helps me keep things focused. Frankly if I could get the same margins out of bananas i'd happily be dealing in those. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
metcars 397 Posted July 3, 2017 1 hour ago, grant8064 said: .......I have no real interest in cars or the motor trade outside of work which I think helps me keep things focused. Frankly if I could get the same margins out of bananas i'd happily be dealing in those. Yes, I get that, cars are just a commodity to be bought and sold, like white goods, TVs or carpet. I suppose it helps if you sell cars that you actually enjoy owning and driving yourself, I don't, and I stock what I know I can sell. Interesting fact, many years ago I pondered on the idea of selling boats. There's a surprising boating community in North East London Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grant8064 219 Posted July 3, 2017 29 minutes ago, metcars said: I suppose it helps if you sell cars that you actually enjoy owning and driving yourself, I don't, and I stock what I know I can sell. I don't even like driving much... Maybe I need to re-think this career path Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
metcars 397 Posted July 3, 2017 1 hour ago, grant8064 said: I don't even like driving much... "freedom of the open road" "mobilising the masses" not any more! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoMargin 11 Posted July 4, 2017 On 2017-7-2 at 0:08 AM, MrC said: Who remembers the time when Autotrader man used to come to take the pictures. ? I remember driving my cars up to Autotrader in Watford, to get the photos taken and ad for the magazine, easy peasy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrC 142 Posted July 4, 2017 5 hours ago, NoMargin said: I remember driving my cars up to Autotrader in Watford, to get the photos taken and ad for the magazine, easy peasy Cars bought on Tuesday, in Autotrader on Thursday Sold by the weekend Guaranteed 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoMargin 11 Posted July 4, 2017 3 hours ago, MrC said: Cars bought on Tuesday, in Autotrader on Thursday Sold by the weekend Guaranteed Exactly that, good old happy days, all good things come to an end Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
have a word with the wife 299 Posted July 4, 2017 5 hours ago, NoMargin said: Exactly that, good old happy days, all good things come to an end no sat navs, they had to phone to find address, then you knew they were coming, " get the hosepipe out " 9 hours ago, MrC said: Cars bought on Tuesday, in Autotrader on Thursday Sold by the weekend Guaranteed only allowed 21 words though so it was fsh pas e/w abs 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrC 142 Posted July 4, 2017 1 hour ago, have a word with the wife said: no sat navs, they had to phone to find address, then you knew they were coming, " get the hosepipe out " only allowed 21 words though so it was fsh pas e/w abs Good times Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BHM 994 Posted July 5, 2017 Too true! Now it's "Why didn't you say in the advert there's a scuff on the bumper in the advert?" ME "What? On an £800 Focus!?!!! With 3 photos of the front end!" 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GreenGiant 287 Posted July 5, 2017 56 minutes ago, tradex said: Maybe I need Braille adverts? Hmmmm Might be on to something there.... Second thoughts, car-driving braille readers may be a bit too much of a 'niche' market. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's me 615 Posted July 5, 2017 i think braille adverts are brilliant because most of my clients are touched 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
